Electrical screw plug



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,560

` J. H. STACKHOUSE ET AL ELECTRICAL'SCREW PLUG Filed Ma sh 6. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l @y YM Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,560

. J. H. STACKHOUSE ET AL ELECTRICAL SCREW PLUG Filed March 6. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 5y J3 @y1/MVM d a@ Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

UNITED jsTArEs JOHN I-I. STACKHOUSE, OFv VILMETTE, AND SGI-IN E. ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO ySTACIKHOU-SE @a ALLEN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF JOHNfI-IgSTACKHOUSE ANDJOHN R. ALLEN.k l' i i` ELEo'raroAL SCREW PLUG.

vApplication filed Marcil 6,'1922. Serial No. 541,477.

Our invention j relates to electrical screw p plugs and more particularly to plug that ,can be assembled witha minimum number` of operations.

It is a purpose ot the invention to pro vide an electrical plug with which the ends of conductors are adapted to be connected by a minimum number otassembling operations, and which in its preterreddorm can. be assembledwithout the use ot tools or solder.

It is a further purpose oit the invention in one of its forms to provide an electrical screw plug having a body portion oi' insulating material upon which screw shell is adapted to be mounted, said` screw shell ben form described above'with a central'con-A tact member embedded in the body portion of the plug, said central Contact member being provided with a screw threaded end portion with which a central contact memi ber on said capr is adapted to screw threadedly engage, said cap being provided with means for looking the same against rotation after being moved to proper assenfibled relation with resp-ect to the body portion.

It is still a further purpose of the .invention in one of the forms shown to provideV a plug having a bodyportion from one end of which a central screw threaded contact member projects, said Contact .member being adapted to receive the end portion ot a conductortherearound, andsaid body portion being provided ywith a screw shell which is adapted to clamp the end ot they other conductor of a pair between said screw shell and body portion and to provide a cap member with -a screwthreaded member adapted to engage with said screw threaded yfprojecting portion on said body portion .to clamp )title end Q f plie 0f the CQllfluCQlS bf tween the same and said projecting central Contact, said cap also serving to loch the two different forms rbeing shown in the drawing. In one of these forms the screw shell is provided with similar means for locking the same to the body portion and for locking the cap thereto... However, in the preferred 'form of the Vinvention it is a par# accompanying drawingsA proceeds'.A Howparts in assembledv relation. The invention can be applied to plugs of various types,`

ever, we desire to'have it distinctly understood that we do not intend to limit ourselves yto the exact details shown or described, but that we intend to include asv part ot our invention all Y s uch Aobvious changes and modifications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope ot the claims.

Inthe drawings: Y i Fig` l is a longitudinal sectional view ,ot

our improved screw plug showing the parts inassembled relation and showing the form of plugvvherein the same form of locking means is usedk for locking the screw shell against turning relative to the body portion as is used for locking` the cap to the.

screw shell; K Y' Fig. 2 is a vsectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l looking'in the direction of the arrows; y i

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 lookingA in the direction of the-arrows; i p

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line Ll-at ot Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig'. 5 is a side elevational view of a plugsuch as that shown in Fig. jl, said' plug being .shown as being partlybroken awayand being sho'wnas substantially of actual size;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. lV ot a-:plug

locking the? .Central Contact verri/ins' Cal? lll ing screw thrended `portion O2 `altyottongnes or projeetioni Struck inwardly toward the screw threaded member 4to the Screw shell, the vlorm o'l plug, shown being "what is commonly known ae a divided o1" two part plug;

Fig. T a Ieetion taken on the line T-T otFig'gM l o u S is a seetiontaken on the line SWS ol Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 ie an enlarged 'fragmentary sfeetionw al View showing' the locking eonnertion beftween the Cap member andthe www shell.

Ret'erring` in detail to the draiiingfgspthe improved plug eomprises a bolli,r portion lll which is jnor'ided with the mind enlnrgred end portion ll and whieh has a ventral opening l2 flfor receiving-the iisnal pair ol rondnetoi'e. The openiio" or pa e l2 eonncaftaA with aiitibetantit ily long;A inlinally "extending passageway lrl extemilingl' through to the inner or opposite end ot the body portion and with a snbstiintntlly litter-olly eigtendmlg iassaefe let wliieheiitende thro i the Hide portionoit the body member lt) .in alignment with the screw tln'eaded portion ilothereol. The seroit threaded portion l5 o i` the body portion l0 iS adapted lorlnfeire the similar ly threaded portion lt et the geren' shell l?. It will be noted that-tit the jonction ot the paseagesfl, l'and lll a rmimled shoulder i8 is `provided Whieh nids in grinding the ends of `the eondlietore paeeed inwardly `tbronghthe openingerl into the posean-ee l and 14. lllinbedded in the""body portion oil i the member 1G at the inner `end `thereof n;

the eentral eontaetfnieinber 19 Whieh provided with the flanges Qlto `hold the .same rividly in position inthe member lll, and W lich is provided with anoutwardlyentendaroimd which the endportion (it a` eondnetor in adaptedto be placed.

The screw Shell l? is provided `with an inturned flange portion l-l'at obo rnd thereof, the flange portion 253 being adapted lto seat against the end portioirof the bodylmenllier 10. The .flange Q3 is provided with a plaflf that nre.

portionthereof.` and similzir tongues or projeetions that are Struck ontwai'dlji andy from `the main portion ot the Serna' nboll. rllhe mateiial ot' the Heren* @hell ia ol' aillt'l eient resiilieney that `the tongriiee l will hafe a epnmgi1 :ie-tion. The trenini and are formed bjiprovlilinli 'he transversely extending' slots L16 on thefllnnlii` ...M and the eirenmterentiialelolb 'thereiin rlibs` ond portion of thefhodylnieinbor 'lll ill pro- `vided with a plurality ot teeth or proteotions thereon which have inellned portioiie 2S and substantially flat portions `It Will be lnotedwhen loolingrdown on tlie membenQS a`s`shown in Filz. errew shell 17 is tightened oiithenieinl l0 lijf :i eloekw tl lning movement thereoti the flexible tongiieflnll ride offer the in -athlat aS the rlined portions 2S ol the teeth but that when a reverse inoveinelnt ol the Heren' Shell il' ie attempted at leaet oneot' `thetongnes will engage with one ot" theabi'npt `shoulders Bt) to prevent the `unseijeiiine" ot `the Shell l'jronl t The plug also eomprnses n cap the plug; niemoerll whieh issprovnleil, with n rentral eontaet member 32 having: n redneod portion 90 el oo piowded theieon so thnt the bald membri 32 can be molded in the immber ll and irmly held ix'ipoitiolitherein. `The memlier 3:2 in also provided with a Screw tl'ireadcal portion 334 adapted to Screw tlireaifledlly" reeeire the beren'` threaded portion 7" ol the member ll), thlie eetabliehing olliztrieal eonneotiiin be* tween the memberelEl and 3&2 andtlioeml ol the rondiietor (damped "between said "members. `The cap meniberi-ll ia alitoprovided with :i plnriility et teethorprojeetions thereon comprising' the inelinedportions 35 and the llitt portione` 353, f-iaid `inclined poifitionsllt beine; Aii'lelined at Stich an angle that im the member 3l is turned in it direct-ion to tighten the eamo on the body mlimber "1U by engage nientbetween the .Laertniv threaded portions l and Bah the tonguea will ride `over the inclined snrliaees 35, but `that il1 n movement i ol" themenibeirZ-ll in ndireetionto reinovelthe reame 'lronithebodir member l0 is attenipted, the en d portion `o`t one ot" said tongue 25 w ill entrano with a shoulder or ahnt-ment "proiidodbetween eaeh o t' the inelinedportiona 23T) and n, lint portiont. "Pluie the eap ill. will be locked against remoml from thellaidy port-ion l0 and will hold the partirot the d`e- Vire in aseenibled relation.

lt will be noted that tlieinain body portion` i on and in ronneeliilgltlio i lne; on the end ol a romlnetor ifoillpril-ine1 a pair of ronduelingr me1iili`erf the hare end otoneof Said oopdneling; nit-in'iliern is pawed tlironnih the paesaggi l-l- `and poeitf'oned :ieainrt the outer eide wall portion `ol' the .l lol meinberlll provided irith fthe Seifen"threadz l5. then `the screw Shell lTisr threaded onthe said portion elanlpinir aaidbare `ond between the eerer. :f-ihell and body portion. The mrow `ehell titi-peilen to arieh `an extent' thnt at least oneolthe tiingrnes 2&1! Will enter one of the ree e to a sntleient ebtent ro that the `same will engagenith a shoulder 30 to prerent turning; ottlie member 1T in `:i

llill reversey direction.y The other conducting inenib'eris passed'throughthe passage 13 so asftoproject beyond'the same at the same time :that the {irst mentioned*conductor is passed through tliewpassage 14, thussepa-y rating the conductors so that one of the saine enters one of; the passages and they other enters the other passage, this being ac'- complisliedr bvthe rounded projection 11S at the junction of the passages.` The bare lendv Vot this conductor is then wrapped around the screwfportion. 22 after which the cap 3l is threaded onto the same by engagei ment of the threadson themember 32 with enters one of the'iecesses in the cap mein- ILS,

bei' to a suiiicient extentrso'that the same will engage with one of theshou'lders 37 so as to prevent return rotation ot the cap ineinber, thus lockinoj the cap member in position on the body portion.

It will thus be noted that the flange member 23 with itstongues 24 amid 25 acts as a locking washer `both :torthe screw shell and for the cap member 31,k and t-hat whenthe part-s are' assembled as described above that l aplug will beprovided which is a noirseparable-plug. and which is one .that can be read` ily assembled without the use of tools, and due to the tact'that the'.asseinblingthereof is a hand operation entirely, said assemblying can be very quickly accomplished. The form'y of screw'vplug' shown in Figs.v G to 9 inclusive'einbodies the sameprinciples as the plugs shown in Figs. l to inclusive,`but is or" a different type`,being a two-part or separable plug. Said separable plugs comprise a member 4l having the bareends ot the pair o't conductors associated therewith electrically connected with the prongs or projecting contact members 42 which are adapted to 46 is provided with a enteifthe sockets or recesses 43 in the mem-v ber44. contact membrs 45 and 45 being provided in saidrecess'es 44 for establishing electrical connection with Vthe members 42. The members 45 and 45 are made of material of sufficient resiliency so that the same will grip the members 42 with a spring action. The member 44 is provided with" a screw shell 46 which surrounds thesubstantially cylindrical portion 47 of the member 44' and which is provided with screw threads 48 adapted ,to screw on the threads 48- provided on the member 44 to hold said screw shell on the body portion 44.` The member aiige portion 49,V which is substantially annular,and is provided with radially extending slots 50 and circumferentially extending slots 51, whereby prongs or projections 52 are provided which are struck outwardly from said iiange so as to provideiesilient'fingers for securing the cap 53 in position on the member 44,

Y 54 and, .withrilat surfaces"55..providin The cap 53 is provided Withinelined faces p yg shouldersf56 between said inclined -portions54 and straight portions against which the ends of the* fingers are-adapted to abut tok prevent turning` Aof the member 53 in sucha direction. that the r same :can be vdisengaged from the member 44, said memberf53 having screw threaded engagement with the member y 44; v'The member 44 is provided with a screw 57 in the member 44 which is adaptedtov enter the screw.tlireadedbore158 in the central contact member 59 ofthe capl 53, said contact-59 being provided Ywitha reduced portion GO'or a purpose previously described yand eniraoino with the collar-like aortion 61 which is'made ,integral with the finger 45, said portion 6l being indented at2 so as to engage/snugly with the screw 57.

From the above it will be seen that an connection is provided between one of the spring'contacts 45 and the` central Contact member 59 and between-the other spring con. tact'45 and the screw'v shell 4G. Itwill also be seenthat the'A member 5.3 acts as a locking member tofhold theparts in assembled relation, and furthermore that a device ofthis character can be quiteeasily assembled com- -paied with the common form of separable or two-part screw plugs. It will be noted that the member 53 iirthis case is provided with an annular projection or boss 63 which serves to separate-the .central vcontact from thescrew shell so as to prevent accidentalshort circuitingbetween the same. j vHaving thuspdescribed our invention, what we.. desire to claim and secure'by U. Q. Letters Patent is: .i v f l. An electrical plug of the character described comprising a body portion, a screw shell mounted thereon, a cap, means for securing 'said cap to said body portion' and means for locking said'cap in position comprising ratchet teeth on said cap for locking the same against turning relative to said bodyiportion and yieldable means between said cap. and body portion.

p 2. An electrical plug of the character described comprising a body portion, a screw shell mounted thereomav cap, means for securing said cap to said bodyportion and Ahaving enlargements 57 imbeddedV 3. An electrical plug of the character de?,

scribed comprising a body portion, a screw shell mounted thereon, a cap member having .a Contact thereon, means on said body portion for securing said cap member thereto and means for locking said clap in position on said body portion, said means comprising yieldable means accented between said. .cap

and body` portion cooperating with inclined portionson `snidcap and body portion.

An electricalwplng of the character described comprising `a body portion having ratchet teeththereon, a screw shell inounted teeth and, saideci-ew shell having;r means co-` operating with said ratchet teeth `to lock 1said cap nioinber against rotation relative io said sci'onjslie-ll `in one direction.

`i\.neloctrical plug ot thechai'acter de- `scribed `con'ipiising a body `portion having ratchet teethtliereon, a screw shell `having prongstheieon projecting towards said body portion and engaging with said ratchet teeth to lock said screw `shell against `rotation in one direction, a cap ineinbei" having a Contact thilreou` said cap iineniber being provided with ratchet teeth, and `nieanson said body portion ior securing said cap `ineinber `there- `to said sci-euv shell beine irovlded with 3 i h i prongs extending toward said capmeniber to lock said cap ineinber against rotation in `one direction.

GQ An electricalplug ot the character described eoniprisingn bod)T portion, a3 cap ineinbei having a contactithereon, ine-ans on `said bodyy portion `for securing said cap mein ber thereto, saidloody portion and said cap member beingir proifidedwith ratchet teeth on tlieopposed faces thereof," and: a screw shell mounted on said :body iportion `.and having a lange extending between said body `,portion and said `cap nieiiiber, said ilange :being `proa, i

vided with oppositely 1 directed resilient tongues adapted to engage with saidi'atcliet teeth to lock said screw shell and saidcap nieinbei' fagainst rotatioiiin one direct-ion.` i

Anielectri :al plug` of the `,character dei, scribed coini'irising a body `portion oil" insiilat` ing' nniterial, a `conductingr screw` shell ,fill i nionnted itliei'eoii, means `toi' `autoniatically p lockingsaid shell in `position onsaid `body portion,` a cap `havincfa contact thereon inoiinted Aupon said body portion, and automaticmeans/tor locking,r said `capfiii position. i i t i 8. An electrical fplngrfof the character described comprising` a body portion ori insiilat` innfniaterial, a coniilnctingscrew shell screwtlirendedly mounted thereon, means for automatically locking said shell in ,position on` said body portion, a `cap having `a. contact p p thereon `mounted rupon `said body portion,

and automatic means `for locking saidicap in position.

t). VAn electrical plug ofthe character def scribedcomprising abody portioniojt insulat ingnniterial, a conductingscrew shell screw-` i threadedly mounted thereon, means fortuito matically locking saidfshell inposition on;

said body` portion, saidishell Vbeing` adapted to clamp a lead-in conductor in placeonsaict body portion, a cap having a Contact there` on `mounted `upon said `body p0rtioii,`- and automatic means `for locking said` cap in position. i ,a i i In Witness -whereof, `we `hereunto `subseriliie our nainesthisth day of February, A, QD.

JOHN sinto/Knot;sn;`

` t `Joint ii, ALLEN. 

